I’m writing to you today on a matter that is important to me as your constituent but also important for the nation. As you know, voters elected President Trump to appoint principled jurists to the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeal and district courts.

I am pleased with the fair and timely confirmation of Justice Gorsuch and would like to see more judges confirmed in a similar manner. At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump faced more vacancies for federal judgeships than Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Due to more retirements and unnecessary delays in the Senate, there are now more judicial vacancies than the day President Trump was inaugurated.

There are two simple ways to reform the judicial confirmation process and restore the constitutionally mandated role of the Senate. First, if you haven’t done so already please return any and all “blue slips” you may have on qualified nominees. Second, the 30-hour debate rule should be repealed or replaced with a more reasonable limit on debate before a vote. I support Senator Lankford’s proposal for revising the 30-hour debate rule.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Each day these judicial vacancies aren’t filled the backlog of cases grows. Justice delayed is justice denied.